Page 144 of Take What You Want

Reid hunches over the soundboard with his brow drawn in concentration. I jot down a few lyrics into my notebook as we listen to the bass line we created.

“Is it too heavy for the direction you’re going for with this album?” he asks.

I close my eyes and listen carefully. It has more body to it than the bass on some of the other songs but I think it works. “Nah, I like it. It’ll stand out and mix it up a bit.”

He nods and makes a few minor tweaks. We’ve been in the studio for hours and it’s just like old times. Reid’s tried to step back while I’ve been creating this body of work, not wanting to influence it too much. But I miss working with him so on the way into the studio this morning, I called him and invited him in.

It’s the first time we’ve seen each other since our night with Jane. It only took a few minutes to clear the air that was already see-through.

“You and Jane good?”

“Yep.”

“We good?”

“Of course.”

“Alright then.”

That was that. He knows his place in my life and Jane’s position as well. I love them both and while that night was special, it’s never going to happen again.

I sit up on the couch and stretch my arms above my head. “We should take a break soon.”

“One minute,” Reid says distantly. He’s zeroed in on something in the bassline and when he gets in the zone like this, it’s hard to pull him out. He hasn’t made any indication that he wants to pursue music on his own which is a shame. He’s talented as hell and has an attention to detail like no one else I’ve ever worked with.

Suddenly, the door to the studio flies open and slams back against the wall. We both jerk our heads toward the intrusion and I’m taken by surprise to see Walker storming in.

“Hey, man,” I say and stand to greet him but the look in his eye has me stumbling back a step. He looks downright murderous as he crosses the space in a few quick strides. I open my mouth to speak again when his fist slams into it instead, knocking the words back down my throat.

“How could you?” he roars and everything blurs as Hayden tries to pull Walker off me and Reid gets into the mix, wrapping a protective arm around my chest and freeing me from Walker’s grip. “You’re my fucking brother!”

“What the hell?” Reid shouts as he keeps me steady. My head spins from Walker’s punch. That big fucker is strong.

Hayden speaks smoothly to Walker. “Calm down, bro. You don’t need to fight.”

Walker’s chest heaves with angered breaths as he glares at me and I know. Iknow.

“Walker—”

“You don’t get to fucking speak right now.” He points his finger at me. “You’re going to answer my questions before I knock you flat on your ass.”

Reid stiffens behind me, and I can feel him gearing up to step between us and defend me. But I’ve had this coming. It’s time to face the consequences I’ve put off for nine years.

I dislodge myself from his hold and gesture for him to stand back. He’s reluctant to do so, but eventually relents. Hayden and Walker seem to have a similar conversation as Hayden drops Walker’s arm and steps back as well. Our eyes briefly meet and he lightly shakes his head.

The irony isn’t lost on me that this is the first time the four of us are all in the same room again and it’s devolved into fighting and chaos.

“How long have you been fucking my sister?” Walker’s words are like a slap to the face with how cheap he makes it sound. “And don’t try to lie to me right now. I saw the photos with my own eyes.”

My stomach drops. “What photos?”

Hayden registers my shock and says gravely, “Photos hit the tabloids this morning of you and Jane in…compromising positions.”

“You were fucking her in an alley,” Walker spits.

Fucking hell. How did someone get pictures of that night? We were all alone. I kept an eye out. I was vigilant.

Not vigilant enough, my subconscious butts in. I need to get to Jane.

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